Swing door receptacles

ABSTRACT

Swing door receptacles having a pivotable or removable top wall, an opening in one or more sidewalls preferably intersecting the top wall, and a swing door in each opening supportable for pivotable movement about an axis along its upper edge. The swing door can be pivotably supported by the sidewalls or, more preferably, by the top wall.

United States Patent [72] Inventor Robert A. O'Neil 728 Lennox, Glen Ellyn. 111. 60137 [21] Appl, No 790,739 [22] Filed Jan. 13, 1969 [45] Patented July 20, 1971 [54] SWING DOOR RECEPTACLES 8 Claims, 9 Drawing Figs. [52] US. Cl 232/43.l [51] Int. Cl 1365f 1/00 [50] Field ofSearch 2232/43.], 25, 44, 45, 48

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 331,196 11/1885 Heintz..... 232/25 476,657 6/1892 Klein 232/45 592,903 11/1897 Bruseau I 232/45 728,401 5/1903 232/45 1248,185 ll/l917 232/43.1 1,264,700 4/1918 232/45 1,511,982 10/1924 232/43.1 1,618,366 2/1927 232/431 1,808,235 6/1931 232/45 2,907,516 10/1959 Follettet a1 232/43.1

Primary Examiner-Francis K. Zugel Attorney-Johnston, Root, OKeefe, Keil, Thompson &

Shurtleff ABSTRACT: Swing door receptacles having a pivotable or removable top wall, an opening in one or more sidewalls preferably intersecting the top wall, and a swing door in each opening supportable for pivotable movement about an axis along its upper edge. The swing door can be pivotably supported by the sidewalls or, more preferably, by the top wall.

PATENiEnduLzo I97! SHEET 1 BF 2 INVENTORY ROBERT A. O'NElL BY WWW ATT' Y3 OMMZW PATENIED JULZOB?! 3,593 91 sum 2 0F 2 FIGS SWING DOOR RECEPTACLES BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention concerns improvements in receptacles and, more particularly, concerns receptacles having one or more swing doors in openings in one or more sidewalls for insertion into the receptacle of articles of various types. The top wall is removable or pivotable to facilitate removal of the articles.

There are many types of receptacles for articles to be discarded, stored, or temporarily housed in the receptacle.

Receptacles of the subject invention may be used as waste receptacles, storage containers, clothes hampers, diaper pails, and sundry other uses. The receptacles herein are of the type which are normally completely closed, but which have one or more access openings for insertion of articles into the receptacle. Clothes hampers and diaper pails and like receptacles normally have a top wall or lid which is removed or pivoted for the purpose of placing articles in the receptacle and also for the purpose of emptying same. From a convenience viewpoint, it is believed that such receptacles could be improved because the insertion of articles in such receptacles requires two hands, one to lift the top or lid and the other to insert the article or articles. It is further believed that the aesthetic aspects of many types of normally open receptacles, such as wastebaskets, could be improved by providing thereon a lid or cover which need only be removed or pivoted out of the way upon emptying such wastebaskets.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION This invention concerns improvements in receptacles of the type aforedescribed wherein the receptacle has a removable or pivotable top, cover, or lid and one or more access openings in one or more sidewalls of the container immediately contiguous to the upper edge of said sidewalls. Such opening is preferably a recess-type opening provided in the upper edge of the sidewall or walls.

The opening is normally closed by providing therein or thereacross a swing door having its pivot axis along or adjacent the upper edge of the swing door whereby the swing door will remain normally closed by gravity. Such swing door may be pivotably supported by pivot pins or hinges in or adjacent the side edges of the opening but more preferably is pivotably supported by a hinge or hingelike structure on a side edge of the top wall, cover, or lid. The opening and swing door constitute the vehicle by which articles usually are placed in the container or receptacle, and by virtue of their location near the upper edge thereof, allow maximum filling of the container or receptacle before its contents interfere with the movement of the swing door.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The improvements provided by the invention herein will be more fully appreciated by the several preferred embodiments of the invention illustrated in the drawings wherein:

FIG. I is a perspective view of a first embodiment with a hinged swing door and hinged cover or lid;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged, fragmentary, perspective detailed view of the hinged structure of the cover or lid for said embodiment;

FIG. 3 is a perspective, fragmentary view of a second embodiment;

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary, perspective view ofa third embodiment,

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary, perspective view of a fourth embodiment;

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary, perspective view of a fifth embodiment;

FIG. 7 is a perspective, fragmentary, exploded view of a sixth embodiment; a

FIG. 8 is a fragmentary, side elevation of the latter embodiment; and

FIG. 9 is a fragmentary, perspective view of a seventh em bodiment.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Referring to the drawings, the embodiment of FIG. 1 is a six-sided receptacle 10 of substantially cubic shape. It is made up of flat, rectangular sidewalls II and 12, a flat, rectangular rear wall 13, and a flat, rectangular front wall 14. The front wall 14 has across the entire width of its upper edge a threesided opening 15.

The top wall lid or cover 16 may be completely removable, or may be, as illustrated, preferably supported at an axis extending along its rear edge. Such pivotable support may be provided by any suitable means, the means illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2 comprising a pin 17 projecting from rear portions of opposite side edges 18. The pins 17 are rotatably seated in holes or apertures 19 in the respective rear upper corners of the sidewalls'll and 12.

The opening is normally closed by s swing door 20 pivotably supported along it supper edge by a pair of pins 21 of like character to the pins 17. The swing door 20 is normally substantially flush withthe front wall 14, but can be swung rearwardly and upwardly by hand when small articles are to be placed in the container or receptacle 10. Alternatively, when larger articles are to be placed therein, the top wall lid or cover 16 may be swung upwardly for such purpose.

The embodiment of FIG. 3 is a six-sided receptacle 25 of a similar cubic-type shape. Its front wall 26 has an opening 27 extending the full width of the upper edge thereof. The swing door 28 is pivotably mounted by pins 29 (like pins 17 and 21) in a vertical plane immediately behind a plane of the front wall 26. The door swings by gravity against the rear face of the front wall 26.

The top wall lid or cover 30 is slidably supported on opposing lips or ledges 3] provided near the respective top edges 32 of the sidewalls 33 and 34. The top wall lid or cover 30 may be lifted off completely or it may be slid to a position such as shown in FIG. 3, as desired.

The receptacle or container 35 of FIG. 4 is a similar cubictype container. The upper opening, or recess 36 in its front wall 37 has a swing door 38 pivotably supported along its upper edge by pins 39 (like pins 17 and 21). The top wall 40 comprises a fixedly mounted rear segment 41 and a pivotably mounted front segment 42. The front segment 42 is pivotably mounted along its rear edge by pins 43 (like pins 17 and 21 It has longitudinal downwardly extending lips 44.

The receptacle 45 of FIG. 5 is a six-sided receptacle of frusto-pyramid shape. Its front wall 46 has a recess or opening 47 in the upper edge thereof, which opening or recess extends substantially the full width of the upper wall. This opening is closed by a swing door 48, which is pivotally mounted near its upper edge by pins 49 (like pins 17 and 21). The top wall lid or cover 50 of the receptacle 45 is pivotally mounted at its rear edge by a pair of pins 51 (like pins 17 and 21 It has at its front edge a downwardly extending lip or flange 52 which overhangs the upper edge of the swing door 48.

The receptacle 55 of FIG. 6 is similar in most respects to the embodiment of FIG. 1, and where applicable, like numerals designate like parts. The embodiment of FIG. 6 differs in that the swing door 56 is pivotally mounted on the front edge of the top wall lid or cover 16 by a piano hinge 57 or other suitable hinge means hingedly connecting the underface 58 of the top wall lid or cover 16 and the rear face of the swing door 56. The sidewalls II and 12 may have on their respective interfaces ledge-forming means, such as the ribs 59 on which the top wall lid or cover I6 rests when it is in the down or closed position.

The embodiment of FIGS. 7 and El illustrates a receptacle or container with two swing doors. The receptacle or container is a six-sided receptacle of cubic-type shape. Its sidewalls 66 and 67 have outwardly directed flanges 6'8 and 69 along the upper edges thereof. These flanges function as the support members for the lid or cover 70, which comprises a panel 71 with bars 72 and 73 extending along opposite edges thereof.

The flanges 68 and 69 contain recesses or holes 74 at respective ends thereof, which holes or recesses receive the studs or pins 75 projecting downwardly from the underfaces of opposite ends of the bars 72 and 73. The holes or recesses 74 are of sufficiently large diameter relative to the diameters of the studs or pins 75, so that the lid or cover 70 may be pivoted up- I wardly. as shown in FIG. 8.

The inner faces of bars 72 have studs or pins 76 which seat in holes or recesses 77 in the side edges 78 of swing doors 79 and 80 to pivotally mount the latter on the lid or cover 70. When the lid or cover 70 is in position on the receptacle 65, these swing doors substantially fill the openings 81 and 82 provided in the front and rear walls 83 and 84 of the receptacle.

It will be seen from FIGS. 7 and 8 that the embodiment illustrated therein provides two swing door accesses to the interior of the container and further provides a double pivotal mount.- ing of the lid or cover 70.

The embodiment of FIG. 9 also is a receptacle or container with two swing doors. As illustrated, it is a cube-shaped receptacle having sidewalls 85 and 86, a front wall 87, a rear wall 88 and a bottom wall (not shown). It also has a cover or lid which 7 rests loosely on the upper edge of the container or receptacle The receptacle has at its upper edge two swing doors 91 and 92 which normally hang by gravity in the rectangular openings 93 in the front and rear walls 87 and 88. These swing doors are pivotally supported with pivot axes adjacent their upper edges tion shown in FIG. 9.

The subject receptacles are eminently suitable for manufacture by injection molding of the component parts thereof from thermoplastic or therrnosetting synthetic organic polymers.

The article receiving portion, i.e., the composite of the sidewalls, front wall, rear wall, and bottom wall may be molded as a single unit. The molding of the lid or cover with the swing door integral therewith, as illustrated in the embodiment of FIG. 6, may be a molding of polypropylene or other organic polymer wherein the lid or cover and swing doors are formed with an integral, thin, connecting, polypropylene strip known in the art as a living hinge." Such living hinge" forms the means for pivotally supporting the swing door.

It is thought that the invention and its numerous attendant advantages will be fully understood from the foregoing description, and it is obvious that numerous changes may be made in the form, construction, and arrangement of the several parts without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention, or sacrificing any of its attendant advantages, the

forms herein disclosed being preferred embodiments for the purpose ofillustrating the invention.

lclaim:

l. A cuboid receptacle having a rectangular bottom wall, opposing, parallel, rectangular sidewalls and opposing, parallel, rectangular front and rear walls defining an article receiv ing cavity, the upper portion of said front wall being cut away to provide a three-sided opening of sufficient size for insertion of articles into the receptacle, a swing door in said opening with the upper edge thereof extending between said sidewalls, first pivot means pivotally supporting said swing door in said opening with the pivot axis thereof extending along the upper portion of said swing door and the upper edge of the swing door being substantially coplanar with the upper edges of said sidewalls, a rectangular lid resting on the upper portion of said receptacle substantially parallel with said bottom wall, and

second pivot means pivotally supporting the rear edge of said lid to allow said lid to be raised.

2. A receptacle as claimed in claim 1 wherein said first pivot means comprises a pair of pins extending laterally from opposite side edges of said swing door and rotatably supported in the upper front corners of said sidewalls.

3. A receptacle as claimed ll'l claim 1 wherein said second pivot means comprises a pair of pins extending laterally from the side edges of said lid and rotatably seated in the rear upper corners of said sidewalls.

4. A receptacle as claimed in claim 3 wherein said first pivot means extends along the front edge of said lid to provide pivotal support of said swing door on the front edge of said lid.

5. A receptacle as claimed in claim 1 wherein said first pivot means extends along the front edge of said lid to provide pivotal support of said swing door on the front edge of said lid.

6. A receptacle as claimed in claim 1 wherein said first pivot means comprises a pair of pins extending laterally from opposite side edges of said swing door and rotatably supported in the upper front comers of said sidewalls, and the front edge of said lid resting on the upper edge of said swing door when said lid is in the closed position.

7. A receptacle as claimed in claim 1, a second three-sided opening at the upper portion of said rear wall, a second swing door in said second opening, and third pivot means pivotally supporting said second swing door in said second opening with the pivot axes thereof extending along the upper edge of said second swing door.

8. A receptacle as claimed in claim 1 wherein said second pivot means comprises a pair of pins extending laterally from the side edges of said lid and rotatably seated in the rear upper comers of said sidewalls, a downwardly extending lip on the front edge of said lid overhanging the upper edge of said swing door when said lid is in the closed position, and the front edge of said lid resting on the upper edge of said swing door when said lid is in the closed position. 

1. A cuboid receptacle having a rectangular bottom wall, opposing, parallel, rectangular sidewalls and opposing, parallel, rectangular front and rear walls defining an article receiving cavity, the upper portion of said front wall being cut away to provide a three-sided opening of sufficient size for insertion of articles into the receptacle, a swing door in said opening with the upper edge thereof extending between said sidewalls, first pivot means pivotally supporting said swing door in said opening with the pivot axis thereof extending along the upper portion of said swing door and the upper edge of the swing door being substantially coplanar with the upper edges of said sidewalls, a rectangular lid resting on the upper portion of said receptacle substantially parallel with said bottom wall, and second pivot means pivotally supporting the rear edge of said lid to allow said lid to be raised.
 2. A receptacle as claimed in claim 1 wherein said first pivot means comprises a pair of pins extending laterally from opposite side edges of said swing door and rotatably supported in the upper front corners of said sidewalls.
 3. A receptacle as claimed in claim 1 wherein said second pivot means comprises a pair of pins extending laterally from the side edges of said lid and rotatably seated in the rear upper corners of said sidewalls.
 4. A receptacle as claimed in claim 3 wherein said first pivot means extends along the front edge of said lid to provide pivotal support of said swing door on the front edge of said lid.
 5. A receptacle as claimed in claim 1 wherein said first pivot means extends along the front edge of said lid to provide pivotal support of said swing door on the front edge of said lid.
 6. A receptacle as claimed in claim 1 wherein said first pivot means comprises a pair of pins extending laterally from opposite side edges of said swing door and rotatably supported in the upper front corners of said sidewalls, and the front edge of said lid resting on the upper edge of said swing door when said lid is in the closed position.
 7. A receptacle as claimed in claim 1, a second three-sided opening at the upper portion of said rear wall, a second swing door in said second opening, and third pivot means pivotally supporting said second swing door in said second opening with the pivot axes thereof extending along the upper edge of said second swing door.
 8. A receptacle as claimed in claim 1 wherein said second pivot means comprises a pair of pins extending laterally from the side edges of said lid and rotatably seated in the rear upper corners of said sidewalls, a downwardly extending lip on the front edge of said lid overhanging the upper edge of said swing door when said lid is in the closed position, and the front edge of said lid resting on the upper edge of said swing door when said lid is in the closed position. 